Author: Brian Burdett

“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:8-9

Many of us will struggle at times with God’s sense of timing. Why is He so slow to act? Why are things suddenly moving so quickly? When will things get better instead of worse? When will it become clear what God is doing? These questions and frustrations are certainly natural, but they generally reflect our foolishness in applying a human perception of time on the God Who stands astride time itself.

Just as God’s ways aren’t our ways (His are higher and better) and God’s thoughts aren’t our thoughts (His are higher and better), likewise, God’s understanding of time and timing aren’t our understanding of these things (His is higher and better). God sees and knows what’s absolutely best across all of time. Therefore, He is able to act not when we FEEL like He should, but when He KNOWS He should.

Similarly, God’s purpose in acting isn’t generally the same as ours. We usually want God to act on our timetable for our comfort and convenience. That isn’t God’s priority. His priority is the salvation of as many people as possible. God will use extended times of hardship, stress, and sorrow to save people from their deepest problem (sin). Therefore He will work on the timetable that guides the most into repentance. That usually won’t be the timetable we’d prefer. Nonetheless out of faith in God and love for those who need to repent, we must discipline ourselves to be patient and trust the Lord.

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” – 1 Peter 5:10

The Bible is clear – suffering is an expected part of every life. In this fallen world, we will experience things like sickness, injury, loneliness, loss, hardship, disaster, and death. This suffering isn’t spread evenly across all people – some experience far more than others, but all come to know some heartache and pain. Likewise, suffering isn’t spread evenly across all the years of our lives – there will be seasons of greater suffering and seasons with little to no suffering.

The important things to know is that there is a confident hope that’s infinitely greater than all our suffering. For those who are in Christ, there is a wonderful, glorious, perfect future that stretches on endlessly before us. To encourage and strengthen us during the hard times, God has given the promise Peter proclaims in this verse. In Christ, God will restore us, confirm us, strengthen us, and establish us.

This promise is utterly beyond our ability to fully imagine. God will personally wipe away every tear and comfort us. All prior pain and grief will fade in the light of God’s glorious presence. Suffering and death will be no more. While our past, present, or near future may be troubled, sorrowful, or agonizing, our forever future is amazing, beautiful, glorious, delightful, joyful, and full of awe and wonder. Rejoice and take heart!

“Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled” – 1 Peter 3:13-14

Peter’s first letter provides excellent practical and theological advice for navigating times of suffering and hostility toward authentic Christianity. This is a good word for Christians today as we should be preparing ourselves for an increase in opposition within our culture. Don’t simply lament the situation, prepare for it!

Peter is quite correct – most of the time, in most situations throughout history people aren’t going to oppose, harass, or stop a person genuinely focused on doing good works in the name of Jesus. Even if they don’t like the name of Jesus, it’s very hard for those in power to stop obviously good things from being done to care for the poor, sick, lonely, outcast, weak, and vulnerable. God often protects such work supernaturally.

However, what if people do try to stop you? This is the practical part of Peter’s letter! Don’t worry about it! If you’re opposed, persecuted, or hurt for doing good works for the good name of Jesus, don’t worry about it! Why? Because God will bless you for doing these good works! That isn’t just a quick blessing after you sneeze. Rather, God will bless you eternally for the brief (compared to all of eternity) suffering you may have to endure while serving and glorifying Him.

Don’t let the fear of a few years of difficulty or pain scare you off from experiencing unending blessings for doing the right things for Christ! Don’t be troubled at the prospect or loss or even imprisonment for being the hands and feet of Jesus. Like the Apostles, welcome the opportunity to be opposed for the sake of Jesus and His love, because that’s a mark of God present and future blessing.

“For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.” – 1 Peter 2:15

People are going to talk about us, at least if we’re correctly living our faith in Jesus Christ. That’s a reality. People are going to say things they shouldn’t about Christians and about Christ. Hurtful things. False things. Ridiculous things. Nasty things. It’s been true for two thousand years. Across the centuries, Christians have been called cannibals, fools, haters, traitors, and the list goes on…

As the rhetoric once again rises against those who hold to the historical truths of the Christian faith, note well how God desires for His people to respond: by doing good. God doesn’t want us to silence the ignorance of foolish people by talking louder than they talk. He doesn’t want us to shout them down. He doesn’t want us to out-debate them. He doesn’t want us to act like bigger and more ignorant fools. He doesn’t want us to curse and complain about them to one another. He doesn’t want us to humiliate them or make fun of them. He doesn’t want us to fight fire with fire. He doesn’t want us to pursue legal actions to silence them.

God commands us to respond to the ignorant and hateful rhetoric of our day (and every day) by doing good deeds in the name of Christ. He wants our love, our service, and our kindness to thunder His name in the face of ignorance. He wants our Christ-like care for one another and for those in need to speak for us. How are you responding to the ignorance of foolish people – with your words or your good works?